2010 a mixed bag for Indian defence research

BALASORE: The year 2010 proved a mixed bag for the defence research and development organization (DRDO).Out of the 18 tests of the missiles of at least ten categories, 14 times it was successful and the rest failures.

But what left the defence experts worried was that the unsuccessful missiles included one of India's most touted missiles Prithvi-II which has already been deployed in the Indian army and tested successfully more than 20 times earlier. In 2009, the DRDO had drawn flak from various quarters following two consecutive failures of another proven missile 2000 km range Agni-II.

This year the eye was on for the first experimental trial of the surface-to-surface 2750 km range ballistic missile (IRBM) Agni-II prime, also known as Agni-II+. It was a major mission but proved unsuccessful. While the scientists' community was eagerly waiting for its success, the missile in a contrary deviated from the trajectory and nosedived into the Bay of Bengal during the trial on December 10.

The other missiles which failed during tests included beyond visual range Astra, AAD interceptor. However, this year the missiles which made the DRDO proud were the country's longest range (3500 km) missile Agni-III, Agni-II, Agni-I, BrahMos cruise missile, Dhanush and long range submarine launched ballistic missile K-4.

The year marked the successful flight trials of air-to-air missile Astra and submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) K-4 in January. While the Astra having a multiple striking range between 25 km to 100 km was tested from the integrated test range (ITR) off the Orissa coast, the K-4 missile was tested from a Pontoon (replica of a submarine) off the Andhra Pradesh coast. Later this month the air force conducted flight trials of laser-guided bombs (LGBs).

In a major boost to the country's arsenal, DRDO scientists successful tested longest range ballistic missile Agni-III from Wheelers Island off the Orissa coast in February. But after that the DRDO started tasting the bitterness of failures. The much awaited test of advanced air defence (AAD) interceptor was deferred as the missile encountered technical snags at the last minute on March 14. Next day in an abortive attempt the interceptor couldn't take off from the launch pad at Wheelers Island as the target missile Prithvi launched from ITR at Chandipur deviated from its pre-coordinated trajectory.

But on March 21, India became the first country in world when for the first time it tested the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos cruise missile at a supersonic speed in a steep-dive mode from the ITR. The same missile was also tested successfully on September 5. However, in March itself the DRDO had conducted successful trials of four missiles. After the BrahMos, India for the first time test-fired nuke-capable Dhanush and Prithvi-II missiles from two separate locations of the Orissa coast during the dawn hour. Later, Indian Army test-fired surface-to-surface Agni-I missile from the Wheelers Island.

In May, Indian army successfully test-launched surface-to-surface nuke capable ballistic missile Agni-II from Wheelers Island. It brought cheers for the scientists' community as the 2000 km range missile had failed twice last year. In June, nuke capable Prithvi-II missile was successfully tested fired from the ITR during the morning hour.

But misfortune struck the country's elite organization in July and September, during the tests of Astra, AAD interceptor and Prithvi-II missiles. While Astra missile failed to deliver desired results during two consecutive trials, the AAD interceptor failed to have a direct hit with the target missile. The Prithvi-II missile put the credibility of the DRDO at stake when during the test on September 24 the missile fell down immediately after taking off from the launch pad and caught fire.

However, the failure was made up for in November when India successfully test-fired nuclear capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-I from Wheelers Island. In December, block III version of BrahMos cruise missile was flight tested successfully from the ITR. The year however ended with a happy note as the strategic force command of Indian army successfully test-fired two Prithvi-II missiles within a gap of one hour from the ITR.

The Year of Successes and Failures

January 11 - India successfully tests its first beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAM) Astra back-to-back from the integrated test range (ITR) off the Orissa coast
January 15 â€“ DRDO tests submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) K-4 from a Pontoon (replica of a submarine) off the Andhra Pradesh coast
January 21 â€“ India conducts flight trials of laser-guided bombs (LGBs) from the ITR
February 7 - India successfully tests its longest range ballistic missile Agni-III from Wheelers Island off the Orissa coast
March 14 - DRDO defers a test of Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile due to technical snags occurred at the last minute
March 15 â€“ AAD interceptor missile couldn't take off as the target missile Prithvi deviated from its pre-coordinated trajectory
March 21 - India successfully test-fires supersonic cruise missile BrahMos from a warship in the Bay of Bengal to become the first and only country in the world to have a 'maneuverable' supersonic cruise missile in its inventory
March 27 - India for the first time successfully test-fires nuke-capable Dhanush and Prithvi-II missiles from two separate locations of the Orissa coast during the dawn hour
March 28 - Indian Army test-fires surface-to-surface Agni-I missile from the Wheelers Island
May 17 - Indian army successfully launches the surface-to-surface nuke capable ballistic missile Agni-II from the Wheelers Island
June 18 - India successfully flight-tests nuke capable Prithvi-II missile from the ITR during the morning hour
July 7 - Astra missile fails to deliver desired results during two consecutive trials
July 26 - AAD interceptor fails to have a direct hit with the target missile
September 5 - India creates history by flight testing BrahMos cruise missile at a supersonic speed in a steep-dive mode from ITR
September 24 â€“ Prithvi-II missile falls down immediately after taking off from ITR and caught fire
November 25 - India test-fires nuclear capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-I from Wheelers Island
December 2 - India successfully flight-tests block III version of BrahMos cruise missile from ITR
December 10 - The first experimental trial of the surface-to-surface
2750 km range ballistic missile (IRBM) Agni-II prime fails
December 22 â€“ Indian armed forces successfully tests two nuclear capable Prithvi-II missiles from ITR capable Prithvi-II missiles from ITR